After Being Scummed – Chapter 67
by Little PandaMiss You So Much!
Zuo Jingyou had always been very indulgent towards Yin Bai. Hearing her say this, she nodded readily: “Okay.”
Thus, Zuo Jingyou abandoned a host of social engagements and really did take Yin Bai back to the hotel to wave the heavens and wave the earth1 together.
After returning from Tibet, Zuo Jingyou rested and reorganized for a bit, then entered a considerably busy period of preliminary preparation work. During the period she and Xu Ruofeng were preparing the storyboards for “Dawa”, Zuo Jingyou, in order to repay a debt of human sentiment2, also made guest appearances in several big-production films.
Of course, while making guest appearances, there were also many familiar directors who, helping others inquire, asked about her work schedule, all asking if she had availability. Zuo Jingyou, who had already submitted a satisfactory graduation project, naturally had availability next year. Besides the filming of “Dawa”, she also wanted to take on one or two roles to properly maintain her condition.
It was just that after turning down Lu Qing’s project, wanting to find a film crew with a similar production level and an excellent script was truly somewhat difficult. Zuo Jingyou looked and looked, but did not find a script that she liked.
Just at this moment, Director Xu Shishi came to her door.
Xu Shishi, within the circle, was considered a somewhat famous female director who liked to film female-centric themes. It was just that she was different from Lu Qing; her filming focus was not on those women who were brilliant during turbulent times, but rather on the women of the present-day city, who grew tenaciously like wild grass.
Her camera lens either aimed at the fragile young girls in third-rate high schools who seemed ordinary and unremarkable, but were actually hiding sharp ruthlessness under the oppression of various adults, or at the young mothers who were sacrificed as a matter of course in family relationships.
And this time, Xu Shishi placed her sights on an urban white-collar woman who was powerless to maintain an intimate relationship, and a street-walking woman.
Zuo Jingyou glanced at the script and found it very interesting. A young woman struggling alone in the city, after experiencing frequent separations from her boyfriend and being powerless to maintain the romantic relationship, only wanted a hug to dissolve the day’s fatigue.
On the way back from a social engagement, she encountered a young girl who was out selling herself……
From then on, she hired the girl long-term, just to obtain the warmth of a hug in this steel forest.
This was a very simple story, but there was a lot of dramatic potential between the main characters. Whether it was the exhausted young woman or the tender and young street-walking girl, both had a realistic feeling mixed with idealistic naivety.
Rather than calling this street-standing literature3, it was more like an adult fairy tale. This was a story that could make people feel warm.
After all, a hug could truly make people feel healed.
Zuo Jingyou believed this was a good script, although it was impossible for it to be like Lu Qing’s film, destined to attract a great deal of attention. But the character relationships in this kind of niche film attracted her very much.
She thought about it seriously, took the initiative to contact Xu Shishi, and discussed the collaboration for this film with her.
The next afternoon, Xu Shishi appeared in the reception room of Zuo Jingyou’s studio.
Xu Shishi was a very delicate-looking woman. At this moment, sitting in front of Zuo Jingyou, she very embarrassedly adjusted her thin-framed glasses and said softly: “Teacher Zuo, for you to be interested in this story, I truly feel very honored.”
“This film’s budget might not be very high, so as for the salary, we estimate we can’t give Teacher Zuo too much……”
Teacher Zuo, however, hadn’t really considered the issue of salary. She looked at the slightly shy director opposite her and asked with a smile: “As for the salary, let’s not talk about it for now. Director Xu, is the current investment sufficient? When will the film start shooting?”
“The investment is enough.” Xu Shishi straightened her chest slightly, looking at Zuo Jingyou with a little more confidence: “When the film starts shooting, it all depends on Teacher Zuo’s wishes.”
“Which character does Teacher Zuo prefer?”
Xu Shishi’s single-blade straight-entry4 saved Zuo Jingyou a lot of pleasantries. Zuo Jingyou smiled, raised her hand to pick up the steaming hot coffee, and took a sip from her lips: “Regarding the character, I actually prefer the street-walking girl. I have never tried such a role before, this time I want to challenge myself……”
Zuo Jingyou took a sip of coffee, placed the cup on the table, crossed her legs, and gazed quietly at Xu Shishi opposite her, saying: “There is just one thing I want to know. If I accept this film, who will be the actress playing opposite me?”
A smile appeared in Xu Shishi’s eyes. She looked at Zuo Jingyou and said very happily: “This is also what I was preparing to tell you. If Teacher Zuo accepts this film, there is a ninety percent chance of collaborating with Teacher Xiao Nian.”
“Speaking of which, my coming to seek Teacher Zuo’s cooperation this time was also on the recommendation of Teacher Xiao Nian. Teacher Xiao Nian said she has always admired Teacher Zuo very much, and if there’s an opportunity, she would very much like to collaborate with Teacher Zuo.”
“I also believe that if Teacher Zuo collaborates with Teacher Xiao Nian, it will definitely bring a brilliant performance to this film.”
Xiao Nian? Yin Bai’s ex-girlfriend?
Zuo Jingyou thought for a moment. She picked up her coffee and said with a smile: “I am also particularly looking forward to collaborating with Teacher Xiao Nian, but could Director Xu give me one more day? Before six o’clock tomorrow afternoon, I will give you a definite reply.”
Xu Shishi received this promise from her, and her already uneasy heart became even more unsettled. She nodded awkwardly and said: “Okay.”
The two chatted for a while longer, then Zuo Jingyou got up and saw Xu Shishi out of the studio.
Zuo Jingyou crossed her arms, stood at the doorway watching Xu Shishi’s departing figure, and fell into thought.
Xiao Nian, ah…… To be honest, this script is good, the story is worth exploring, and the love-hate entanglement between the characters is also quite attractive. Zuo Jingyou didn’t really want to give up this script.
It’s just, if she collaborates with Xiao Nian, will Yin Bai be unhappy?
Probably not, right……
After all, Yin Bai once liked Xiao Nian so much. Her hating Lu Qing doesn’t mean she would hate Xiao Nian. Plus, Yin Bai had also said before that sometimes she also felt it would be good if Xiao Nian could collaborate with her.
Plus, she also admired Xiao Nian very much. If they could have scenes together, that feeling would definitely be very good.
It’s just that to film a same-sex movie with her current girlfriend’s ex-girlfriend, she had to ask for Yin Bai’s opinion no matter what.
Zuo Jingyou thought for a moment and decided it was better to go back and sound out Yin Bai. After all, other people didn’t matter, but if she collaborated with Lu Qing or Xiao Nian without informing her, her family’s little act-up spirit5 would definitely raise heaven and earth. When she exploded, it wouldn’t be something that could be coaxed better by continuously sending flowers for half a month.
Ai…… Actually, it wasn’t that Zuo Jingyou couldn’t coax the other person. It was just that for such an insecure little kitten, it was better to coax her well, to do everything in a way that could make her feel at ease.
After all, she had also suffered this kind of instability. She didn’t want her partner to be like her at all, to be on tenterhooks in love, trembling with fear, doubting herself……
Since she liked Yin Bai, she would definitely tell her clearly that she liked her the most.
After Zuo Jingyou made up her mind, she gave some instructions to her assistant about the next matters, and then gave Yin Bai a call.
Yin Bai at home received her call, and hearing her say she was finishing work early, she was simply overjoyed. She hugged the phone, nestled in the sofa, and said gushingly: “Then are you coming back? Or do you want to go out on a date with me?”
“Ah, we haven’t eaten together for several days. Anyway, Tongtong has been nervously reviewing for her final exams recently, so you shouldn’t come back and disturb her. Let her review well and get a good grade!”
“As for us, how about we go on a date together? I went out with Jin Xiangyu two days ago to meet a business partner and discovered a particularly good private kitchen cuisine6 restaurant. I’ll take you to eat there, okay?”
“And then at night, we’ll go see the night view together. I have a suite on the top floor of the Galaxy Hotel in the city center, the night view there is so beautiful! When you look down at night, those lights, oh~ they’re just like a sea of stars, very brilliant, bright and moving~”
“You can see the most beautiful night view of Haicheng!”
Yin Bai said a bunch of things excitedly, the meaning between the lines was all, you haven’t hugged me for a week, let’s find a place with a good view, have a meal, and get a room!
Zuo Jingyou sat in the boss’s chair in her office, hearing Yin Bai’s chattering voice in her ear, her eyes curved into a smile. She twirled the pen in her hand and said in a light tone: “Okay then, will you come out to pick me up?”
“Okay, okay, I’ll change my clothes right now and have Xiang Qiu drive me to your studio.”
Zuo Jingyou bit her lip lightly and let out a low laugh: “Then what do I do without a change of clothes? You know, I’ve never liked wearing the previous day’s clothes.”
“It’s okay, la. I’ll have Zhang Yu pick out a few outfits for you and put them in the hotel first. I remember all your sizes, just leave it to me with peace of mind!”
It seems she really wants to meet~
The corners of Zuo Jingyou’s lips lifted slightly, and she finally gave Yin Bai the answer she wanted: “Okay then, let’s go on a date.”
Zuo Jingyou’s eyes curved, and she acted cute with Yin Bai on the phone in a soft voice: “You have to come pick me up quickly, oh. I didn’t eat much for lunch, I’m so hungry now.”
As soon as Yin Bai heard this, she said hurriedly: “Quick, immediately, right away! Be ready and wait for me, I’m heading out right now!”
In a short while, Zuo Jingyou heard Yin Bai on the other end of the phone, frantically telling Xiang Qiu to get ready to leave, only then did she softly say goodbye to her and hang up the phone.
From Baihe Shanzhuang to Zuo Jingyou’s studio, the drive was about an hour and a half. Even though Xiang Qiu drove as fast as she could, Yin Bai was still only able to arrive at the location of Zuo Jingyou’s studio two hours later.
After Zuo Jingyou got in the car, Yin Bai, sitting in the back seat, grabbed her hand and said in an urgent tone with a somewhat guilty expression: “Ai, there was a traffic jam on the road. I should have arrived much earlier.”
“Are you very hungry? If I had known, I would have picked a closer place. But I’ve already had Zhang Yu order the food, we can eat as soon as we get there.”
Zuo Jingyou looked at her softly, her lips pursed in a gentle smile. She watched as Yin Bai, with a worried face, kneaded her arm for a moment, and sighed like a little old man: “Why didn’t you eat enough for lunch? You need to eat properly. You can’t forget to eat even if work is busy. Didn’t I remind you at noon?”
“Work has been so busy recently, you’ve lost weight.”
Chattering, chattering…… she was a super cute annoying person spirit7.
Zuo Jingyou sighed lightly, raised her hand and pinched Yin Bai’s face, calling out softly: “Yin Bai……”
Yin Bai raised her eyes and looked at her with a baffled expression: “What’s wrong?”
Zuo Jingyou rubbed her face, her eyes full of doting affection: “Is this the time to complain about me not eating? Didn’t we say we haven’t seen each other for a few days? Then after meeting, why not hug me first?”
Yin Bai stared at her fixedly, let out an “aowu” sound, and pounced on Zuo Jingyou against the car window like a big dog. She wrapped her arms around Zuo Jingyou’s shoulders, lowered her head to nibble on her neck, and said with a whimper: “Zuo Jingyou, I miss you so much, oh!”
Zuo Jingyou raised her hand, rubbed the back of her head, her eyes filled with a smile: “I also…… really miss…… really miss you……”
LP: Re-translated on July 25, 2025
Footnotes
- 浪天浪地 | làng tiān làng dì | Literally “to wave the heavens and wave the earth.” A vivid and colloquial expression meaning to fool around wildly, have an unrestrained and hedonistic time, or to live without limits.
- 人情债 | rén qíng zhài | A debt of human sentiment or favor. It refers to a social obligation to repay someone for a past kindness or favor, which is a significant concept in Chinese social relationships.
- 站街文学 | zhàn jiē wén xué | Literally “street-standing literature.” A genre of stories often involving sex workers or “street walkers.” The term can sometimes carry a pulpy or exploitative connotation, but here it is used to classify the story’s subject matter before being contrasted with a more nuanced description.
- 单刀直入 | dān dāo zhí rù | Literally “single blade, straight entry.” A chengyu (four-character idiom) that means to get straight to the point without wasting time on pleasantries or beating around the bush. It uses the metaphor of a warrior charging directly into battle with a single weapon.
- 小作精 | xiǎo zuò jīng | Literally “little act-up spirit.” A modern slang term for someone, often a partner in a relationship, who is high-maintenance, loves to create drama, or “acts up” (作, zuò) to seek attention. It can be either derogatory or affectionate, and in this context, it is used endearingly to describe someone who is a lovable drama queen.
- 私房菜 | sī fáng cài | Literally “private kitchen cuisine.” It refers to exclusive, home-style restaurants often located in private residences, offering high-quality, unique dishes that are not typically found on standard restaurant menus. They provide a more intimate and personalized dining experience.
- 烦人精 | fán rén jīng | Literally “annoying person spirit.” Similar to “zuojing,” this is a colloquial and often affectionate term for someone who is endearingly bothersome or a “pest.” The suffix “精” (jīng) implies they have perfected the art of being annoying, turning it into a defining, almost cute, characteristic.
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